We don’t think we’re being too snobbish when we assume that the prospect of a “Men In Black 3D” was originally something no one really welcomed, including the actors involved in the previous films. The first one was a barely-amusing “Ghostbusters” riff, while the sequel demonstrated every single sign of excess a second installment could showcase. Furthermore, Sony apparently didn’t make as much as they would have hoped on part 2 thanks to hefty back-end deals with the talent involved.
But that didn’t stop “Rush Hour 3,” so of course, it looks like it won’t stop “Men In Black 3D”either. Jemaine Clement of “Flight of the Conchords” is the first non-toplining talent to join the cast, confirming long-held rumors that tabbed him and Sacha Baron Cohen for roles in the film — no word confirming Cohen’s involvement yet, but Josh Brolin is in the film (as the younger version of Tommy Lee Jones; yes there’s a lame time travel element).
Clement will be playing a villain named Yaz, a synthpop duo from Essex who released two albums before putting out a best-of compilation. Or maybe his Yaz will be totally unrelated to the popular band. Clement can sing, so there’s that.
Will Smith and Jones are returning, which still surprises us, since this seemed like a franchise poised for a reboot. Smith, who trails only Jeremy Davies as the biggest actor in the world, can write his own check in Hollywood, so with his infinite choice of projects, why would he revisit this series? And with “The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada,” it looked like the increasingly ornery Jones had left his paycheck days behind. Clement, meanwhile, has a high profile role in the upcoming “Dinner For Schmucks,” and seems to be a bright guy, so we do hope he’s being handsomely compensated. Hopefully with a remastered Yaz boxed set.